USA > Indiana > An illustrated history of the state of Indiana: being a full and authentic civil and political history of the state from its first exploration down to 1879 > Part 15
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It is due to the memory of Governor Whitcomb to state that through the judicious operations of his government, the public credit of the State was redeemed. Measures of compro- mise between the State and its creditors were adopted by which, ultimately, the public works, although incomplete, were given in payment for the claims against the government. In this and other ways, the State was again placed upon respectable footing in the nation.
Governor Whitcomb was succeeded by Hon. Joseph A. Wright, in December, 1849, having faithfully discharged the important duties devolving upon the office, until called, in December, 184S, to represent the State of Indiana in the Senate of the United States. Lieutenant-Governor Paris C. Dunning was acting Governor from December, 1S4S, to the same month in 1849.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR WRIGIIT.
Governor Joseph A. Wright's administration was an event- ful one. During its first year the State was called to mourn the decease of the President, Zachary Taylor, but at home Indiana had much upon which to congratulate herself. The public improvements were going forward with a giant pro- gress, mainly through the united efforts of private capital and
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energy. The products of the soil were abundant, and the market was ample. At the close of 1850, the Governor, in his inaugural address, spoke of the public works in these words: "We are progressing rapidly with works of public improvement. In the past season we have completed four hundred miles of plank road, which have cost from twelve to fifteen hundred dollars per mile. There are some twelve
JOHN M. LOCKWOOD, ESQ. See page 21.
hundred miles additional surveyed and in progress. We have two hundred and twelve miles of railroad in successful opera- tion, of which one hundred and twenty-four were completed the past year. There are more than one thousand miles of railway surveyed and in a state of progress."
In pursuance of a joint resolution of the legislature in 1850, a block of native marble was procured and forwarded to Wash- ington, to be placed in the monument then in course of erec-
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tion at the National capital, in memory of the immortal George Washington. Although the assembly of Indiana did not authorize any sentiment to be placed on the block, Gov- ernor Wright had the following words inscribed upon it: INDIANA KNOWS NO NORTHI, NO SOUTH, NOTHING BUT THE UNION! This motto was placed upon the Washington monument in 1850, and a little more than ten years after, the people of Indiana showed to the world how completely they entered into this sentiment by the sacrifice of blood and treasure in the cause of the Union.
Governor Wright endorsed the compromise measures en- acted by Congress on the slavery question in 1850; and in closing his message of this year he remarked: "Indiana takes her stand in the ranks not of Southern destiny, nor yet of NORTHERN DESTINY. She plants herself on the basis of the constitution, and takes her stand in the ranks of AMERICAN DESTINY."
It was also during Governor Wright's fruitful administra- tion that the State of Indiana started out fully upon the great mission of education. It was in 1852 that the township system was adopted, which has become a truly wonderful success- the boast of the State. The reader is referred to another part of this volume for a complete history of the superior educa- tional advantages of Indiana.
It was also during Governor Wright's administration that the second constitutional convention was held, and a new con- stitution adopted. A general banking law was adopted in 1851. This gave a new impetus to the commerce of the State, and opened the way for a broader volume of general trade. This banking law, however, gave rise to many abuses. The currency was expanded, a delusive idea of wealth prevailed, and, as a consequence, much injurious speculation was indulged. In 1857 the charter of the State bank expired, and the large gains of the State in that institution were directed to the promotion of common school education.
Governor Joseph A. Wright was succeeded by Hon. Ashbel P. Willard, in January, 1857.
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ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR WILLARD.
ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNOR WILLARD.
An extra session of the legislature was convened by Gov- ernor Willard in November, 185S. The constitution of 1852 provided only for biennial sessions of the legislature, and as the legislature of 1857 made no provision for raising a revenue for 1858-9, the necessity for the special session is obvious.
Governor Willard condenses a very complete history of the State bank in the following paragraph, which is taken from his message of 1859: "On the twenty-eighth of January, 1834, an act was approved establishing a State bank. Said act, by its terms, ceased to be a law on the first of January, 1857. Under this law the bank commenced and continued its operations as a corporation authorized to issue and circulate notes, discount paper, and transact all other ordinary banking business until the first of January, 1857. At that time its outstanding circulation was $4,208,725, with a debt due to the institution principally from citizens of this State of $6,095,368. Between the first of January, 1857, and 1859, the bank redeemed nearly its entire circulation, and provided amply for the redemption of that which has not been returned. She has collected from most of her debtors the money which they owed. * * * The State was interested in the bank. She invested in its stock $1,390,000. The money to make the investment was procured by the issuing of five per cent. bonds, the last of which will be payable July first, 1866. * * The report of the commissioners shows that its nominal profits are $2,780,604.36. By the law creating the Sinking Fund, that fund was appropriated, first, to pay the principal and interest upon the bonds; second, the expenses of the commis- sioners; and lastly, the cause of common school education."
On the third day of October, 1860, before his term of office had expired, Governor Willard died at St. Paul, Minn. His remains were brought back to the State by his widow, accom- panicd by the Governor of Minnesota, Hon. Henry M. Rice, one of the United States Senators, and several distinguished citizens of that State. From this date the duties of the exec-
15
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utive devolved upon the Lieutenant-Governor, IIon. A. A. Hammond.
In the same year the State suffered a severe loss to science in the death of David Dale Owen, the State geologist. Acting Governor Hammond, in closing his message to the legislature in January, 1861, referred to the approaching civil war in a spirit of patriotism, manifesting a strong belief that it would not be averted.
GOVERNOR MORTON'S ADMINISTRATION.
Governor O. P. Morton's administration, which commences with his election as Lieutenant-Governor, owing to the resig- nation of Governor Lane, brings us at once to a consideration of the war for the Union, in which he acted an honorable part. Almost immediately after his election to the important office, he issued his proclamation calling the legistature into extra- ordinary session. On this occasion he placed the position of the Southern States in a true light before the assembled repre- sentatives of the State, closing his remarks in the following language: "We have passed from the field of argument to the solemn fact of war which exists by the act of the seceding States. The issue is forced upon us, and must be accepted. Every man must take his position upon the one side or upon the other. In time of war there is no ground upon which a third party can stand. It is the imperative duty of all men to rally to the support of the government, and to expend in its behalf, if need be, their fortunes and their blood. Upon the preservation of this government depends onr prosperity and greatness as a nation; our liberty and happiness as indi- viduals. We should approach the contest not as politicians, nor as ambitious partizans, but as patriots, who cast aside every selfish consideration when danger threatens their country. The voice of party should be hushed, and the bitter- ness that may have sprung out of political contests be at once forgiven and forgotten. Let us rise above these paltry con- siderations and inaugurate the era when there shall be but
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one party, and that for our country. The struggle is one in which we enter with the deepest reluctance. We are bound to the people of the seceding States by the dearest ties of blood and institutions. They are our brothers and our fellow countrymen. But if they regard not their tender relations, how can we? If they wage war upon us, and put themselves in the attitude of public enemies, they must assume all the
HON. WILLARD CARPENTER. See page 21.
responsibilities incident to that position. But while I deplore deeply the character of the contest in which we are engaged, nevertheless we should meet it as men. * * In view of all the facts, it becomes the imperative duty of Indiana to make suitable preparations for the contest by providing ample supplies of men and money to insure the protection of the State and general government in the prosecution of the war to a speedy and successful termination. I therefore
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
recommend that one million of dollars be appropriated for the purchase of arms and the munitions of war, and for the organization of such portion of the militia as may be deemed necessary for the emergency; that a militia system be devised and enacted looking chiefly to volunteers which shall insure the greatest protection to the State and unity and efficiency of the force to be employed; that a law be enacted defining and punishing treason against the State; that a law be enacted suspending the collection of debts against those who may be actually employed in the military service of the State or the United States; that suitable provision be made by the issue of bonds of the State or otherwise, for raising the money herein recommended to be appropriated."
CHAPTER XXVI.
RECORD IN THIE WAR FOR THE UNION.
W ITH the beginning of the year 1861, the political his- tory of Indiana departs from the somewhat dull routine of the previous years, and partakes of the military cast. It would be difficult now for one who was not living in the State at that time to fully realize the excitement that prevailed throughout the length and breadth of the State, when, in April, 1861, the intelligence that Fort Sumter was bombarded, was received. It has been truthfully said that no man living within the limits of America will ever forget that dispatch. The graphic compiler of the " Indiana Soldier " thus describes the profound impression which it produced in this State : "The whole earth itself seemed to reel under the blow, and no longer to afford a sure foothold. Through the long Satur- day that followed, business was at a stand; business houses were closed, and men with clenched fists and high beating hearts stood on the street corners and at the doors of the tele
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graph office. That night, from the knobs of Ohio to the sand hills of Lake Michigan, from the Quaker towns in the castern border to the prairie farms on the western line, the streets of Indiana were black with breathless multitudes still awaiting the tidings of the seventy loyal men in an unfurnished fort, bombarded by ten thousand raging rebels! When the banner appeared - the banner which within the memory of the pres- ent generation had only idly fluttered in holiday breezes-a new meaning seemed to stream from its folds: hats were taken off, as in the presence of something sacred; and shouts begin- ning, it might be, brokenly and in tears, rose and swelled, and made walls and skies resound. At ten o'clock a dispatch was announced: 'Sumter has fallen.' Young men, and men in middle life, looked at white faces and wet eyes of old and venerated citizens, who stood in the street waiting for tidings, and a great stillness fell upon all. They turned to separate and creep silently to their homes. Another dispatch: 'Mr. Lincoln will issue a proclamation to-morrow, calling for seventy-five thousand volunteers.' Cheer upon cheer, roar upon roar, responded. The white-faced old men grew red; they stamped, pounded, wept, roared with the loudest, wildest and maddest. Good, cold-blooded people, who had gone to ved, sprang up, threw open their windows, screamed to passers-by for information, and joined, too, in the national shout."
The following Sabbath was a memorable one in the history of Indiana. The country's cause was the theme at the churches; it was in the prayer, in the sermons, and in the songs. Every where, in every city, town and village of the State, the blessing of the God of nations was invoked upon the President of the United States, and upon the Union.
The President's proclamation was immediately followed by Governor Morton's. Indiana was called upon for six thousand volunteers, as her portion of the seventy-five thousand. The response to the Governor's call can never be described. Before the proclamation had been fully read more than fifteen thousand brave men stood ready for war. The clerk left his desk, the woodman dropped his ax, the farmer left his fielde,
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and the mechanic his bench. In every quarter there was a grand response, a patriotic answer to the Governor's call, and from that hour the complete loyalty, may we not say, the intense loyalty, of the State was manifested.
But there were contributions of means as well as of men. Winslow and Lanier, of New York, the latter formerly a citi- zen of Indiana, offered Governor Morton twenty-five thousand dollars, William Morrison of Indianapolis, one thousand. But there is no room for enumeration. The cities, towns, and other corporations of the State, as well as individuals, gave freely, and unsolicited. The legislature, which met in extra- ordinary session on the twenty-fourth of April, was exceed- ingly prompt and unpartisan in transacting the business which the breaking out of the war had thrust upon them. They voted, and placed at the Governor's control, five hundred thousand dollars for arms and ammunition, together with one hundred thousand dollars for military contingencies. They also voted one million dollars for enlisting, maintaining and subsisting troops, and providing munitions of war.
Having the necessary means placed at his disposal, Gov- crnor Morton commissioned Robert Dale Owen, formerly member of Congress from the First District, agent to purchase arms and munitions of war for the State. In this responsible position Mr. Owen, by his great foresight and wide experience not only saved the State large amounts of money in his pur- chases, but procured for the regiments that represented the State in the army, a much better quality of rifles than many of the other States were enabled to obtain.
Being thus provided with arms, ammunition was next wanted. But there was no delay in procuring this. Just two weeks after the news of the fall of Sumter, Captain H. Strum was detailed for the purpose of establishing, at Indianapolis, a State arsenal. He at once commenced the erection of a suit- able building, and the purchase, with State funds, of sufficient materials to manufacture, in large quantities, ammunition for field pieces and small arms. This arsenal afterwards became useful in not only supplying our own troops in the field, but many brigades from other States. At one time the hands
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employed in the arsenal reached six hundred. It has become a permanent establishment.
The funds for the preparation of this ammunition were all advanced by the State, and the ammunition was paid for, after delivery, by the General Government. The anditing com- mittee connected with the finances of the arsenal, in closing their report, speak in this wise in reference to the efficiency
DR. ANDREW LEWIS. See page 21.
of Captain Strum: " We cannot elose this report without bearing testimony to the ability, integrity and economy with which Captain Strum has managed the affairs of the arsenal."
The want of clothing and eamp equipage for the troops as they were mnstered into service, was almost as pressing and important as that of arms and ammunition. At first the State was obliged to carry the burden of this singly, as it was not until August, 1861, that the Quartermaster-General, at the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
request of Governor Morton, appointed an Assistant United States Quartermaster for this State. In this capacity the State advanced for clothing, etc., in 1861, the sum of five hundred and forty-one thousand seven hundred and twenty dollars. For camp equipage the sum of sixty-five thousand eight hundred dollars was also expended in the same period.
During most of the year 1861 the State was obliged to pro- vide supplies for her troops in the field, and for this purpose ninety-four thousand one hundred and ffty-nine dollars were expended. There were many other avenues of expense in which the State disbursed large sums of money, to aid the General Government, until the latter was thoroughly organ- ized for war.
Nine days after the President's proclamation was issued calling for seventy-five thousand men, in this State companies enough to form nine regiments were raised. Indiana's first quota was only four thousand four hundred and fifty-eight, rank and file; but on the twenty-fifth of April, six regiments, containing more than five thousand men, were mustered into the service; "companies enough for three regiments more reluctantly returning home."
On the sixteenth of May, 1861, Indiana was asked for four regiments more, making ten in all. It is a matter of pride to the people of Indiana that the Secretary of War, in ordering these troops, urged upon the State to send only four regimente. It appears that the patriotism of the State needed restraint rather than stimulant.
In advance of this call three regiments had been organized by the State. They were at once turned over to the United States, and a fourth added a few days after. "The urgency of the people," says Mr. Stevenson, "to join the army was such that, at the instance of the Governor, in advance of the July call for five hundred thousand troops, the Secretary of War allowed Indiana to send into the field, by order of June eleventh, 1861, six regiments; by order of June nineteenth, four regiments. Each of these contained one thousand and forty-six men. One regiment of cavalry (the twenty-eighth regiment, first Indiana cavalry) was included. Thus the excess beyond the call was ten thousand four hundred and sixty mer
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RECORD IN THE WAR FOR THE UNION.
From the same source we learn that the calls upon Indiana by the General Government for troops, in 1861, amounted to thirty-eight thousand eight hundred and thirty-two. Mr Stevenson continues: "In reply, she sent, up to the sixth of January, 1862, forty-eight regiments of infantry, three regi- ments of cavalry, and seventeen batteries, in all fifty-three thousand and thirty-five men; being in excess of the call fourteen thousand two hundred and three men. In the months of July and August, 1862, the President called for six hun- dred thousand additional men; and Indiana's quota was fixed at forty-two thousand and five hundred. By September twen- tieth Indiana's quota, under all these calls, had been filled by volunteers, with the exception of six thousand and sixty. A draft was ordered; but before it took effect, on October sixth, the number deficient had been reduced to three thousand and three, for which number draft was made. The drafted men were to serve nine months. Of these, however, all but four companies volunteered to serve three years. * * * There is one epoch connected with the response to this last call, which merits especial notice. It is the promptitude, unexam- pled, we believe, even among the wonders of the rebellion, with which regiments were poured into Kentucky on the occasion of the sudden and unexpected invasion of that State by Generals Morgan and Kirby Smith, when both Cincinnati and Louisville were seriously threatened. On the eighth of Angust General Buell telegraphed to Governor Morton that 'a formidable raid threatened Kentucky,' and urged that troops be at once sent to General Boyle. On the next day the Executive received an urgent appeal from the War Depart- ment, to which he replied that the quota of twenty-one thou sand two hundred men, called for in July, would be raised in twenty days. Incredible of performance as the promise seemed, he kept his word."
Although Indiana was compelled, in 1862, as we have seen, to make a draft of three thousand men, it should be borne in mind that this was made necessary, not on account of the backwardness of volunteering, but on account of a mistake of the War Department. At the time the draft was made the
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
State had more than her quota in the field, and was subse- quently credited with this surplus.
In 1863, under the call in Angust, Indiana's quota amounted to twenty-six thousand eight hundred and thirty-two men, which the State promptly furnished with volunteers, having, when the quota was full, sixteen hundred and sixty-nine men remaining. Under the second call of this year, in September, Indiana was called upon for eighteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-seven men, which were also promptly furnished by volunteering.
But we have no room in this volume to enumerate the evi- dence of the patriotism of Indianians in the war of the rebel- lion. Here is a touching incident which we cannot fail to add, although it has been told a thousand times: In July, 1863, news reached Indianapolis that a rebel force, estimated to be six thousand strong, had crossed the Ohio, and was marching on Corydon. The Governor immediately issued a call for the people to rise en masse and defend the State. What were the results? Within forty-eight hours from the time this call was issued, sixty-five thousand men had ten- dered their services, and were on their way to the place of rendezvous, while ten thousand more were preparing and had to be notified to remain at home. It will hardly be necessary to repeat the story of the fate of the invading expedition. To prevent a continuance of these expeditions the militia was promptly organized.
At the session of the legislature in 1863, we learn from Governor Morton's message, that up to that date the State had furnished, in all, ninety-cight regiments of infantry and cav- alry, and twenty-seven batteries of artillery; comprising ninety-five thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven officers and men. To this number should be added six thousand eight hundred and thirty-one recruits, who joined old regiments and batteries in the field, making a total of one hundred and two thousand six hundred and ninety-eight men. This number does not embrace all who were enrolled in the regiments of other States from Indiana.
By an act of the legislature, approved May thirteenth, 1861,
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the Governor was authorized to issue bonds to the amount of two million dollars, bearing interest at the rate of six per cent., and Jesse J. Brown, James M. Ray and John H. O. Boyle were appointed a Board of Loan Commissioners to negotiate their sale.
N. G. OLDS, ESQ. See page 21.
This board effected the sale of the bonds on favorable terms to the State. By the sixth section of an act of Congress, approved August sixth, 1861, a direct annual tax of twenty millions of dollars was levied upon the United States, and
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HISTORY OF INDIANA.
apportioned among the several States. The apportionment devolved the payment of nine hundred and four thousand eight hundred and seventy-five dollars on the State of Indiana. This large amount was paid, through the foresight of Governor Morton, by an offset, consisting of the advances made by the State, in arning and equiping the men sent to the field by the State of Indiana.
In his annual message, in 1863, Governor Morton said: " While we rejoice in the bravery displayed by all the armies of the United States, it is a subject of profound congratulation that the Indiana troops have behaved with uniform and dis- tingnished gallantry in every action in which they have been engaged. They form a part of every army in the field, and have been among the foremost in deeds of daring, while their blood has hallowed every soil."
Owing to the large number of men sent to the field from Indiana, it became evident that the families of soldiers, during the winter of 1862-3, would suffer greatly for want of the necessaries of life, and Governor Morton issued an appeal to the people of the State, calling upon the wealthy to contribute of their means for the support of soldiers' families. A very generous response came from all parts of the State. This, together with legislative aid, warded off hunger and starva- tion, and enabled all to pass the winter in comparative peace and plenty.
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